The Malawi Government’s decision to change tune on a ban of imports from Tanzania has ignited calls for authorities to empower small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to boost competitiveness.
Minister of information and Digitisation Moses Kunkuyu on Monday indicated government’s intention to lift the ban on imports from Tanzanian following discussions between officials from the two countries in Dodoma, Tanzania on Friday.
The Malawi Government’s decision followed tensions that began in March after it imposed restrictions on selected agricultural produce from Tanzania.
The issue was escalated in April when Tanzania implemented reciprocal measures which were later lifted.
In an interview on Monday, Chamber for Small and Medium Enterprises Association executive secretary James Chiutsi said there is need to bolster initiatives that will enhance market penetration.
“We need to protect our industries, but the best way forward is to go back on the drawing table and come up with initiatives that will improve our efficiencies, quality of our products and competitiveness,” he said.
Small-scale Business Operators Association of Malawi general secretary Tennyson Mulimbula said most local entrepreneurs need technical and financial capacity to maximise production.
In a Malawi Government Gazette supplement dated March 13 2025, Minister of Trade and Industry Vitumbiko Mumba announced a two-year import ban on maize flour, fresh milk, rice, peanut butter, honey, popcorn, toothpicks, matches, tomatoes, Irish potatoes and fruits.
